• Recently, Pakistan and Afghanistan security forces exchanged gunfire at the Torkham border crossing.
• The clash occurred due to a dispute over border post construction.
• The border has been closed for over a week, impacting trade and civilian movement

About Torkham Border Crossing

• Location: A key transit point between Pakistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Afghanistan (Nangarhar Province).
• Importance: Facilitates trade and travel, serving as the busiest border crossing between the two nations.
• Humanitarian Concerns

1. Critical Timing: The border closure comes during Ramadan, a period when food imports typically surge to meet increased demand.
2. Escalating Food Insecurity: Afghanistan is already grappling with a severe hunger crisis, with millions at risk of starvation.

• Impact of Taliban Rule & Aid Reduction:

1. International sanctions have severely restricted Afghanistan’s banking sector, limiting financial transactions.
2. Declining foreign aid has further exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, making it difficult to secure essential supplies.

• Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu recently extended a heartfelt send-off to the Special Athletes and Coaches from Himachal Pradesh who have been selected to represent India at the Special Olympics World Winter Games, scheduled to take place in Turin, Italy, from March 7 to 16, 2025.

Himachal Pradesh’s Contribution:

• Total Indian Contingent:49 athletes and coaches
• From Himachal Pradesh:24 athletes and coaches
• Disciplines Participated: Skiing, Snowboarding, Cross Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Floorball.

Enhanced Prize Money Announced by Himachal Pradesh Government:

Olympics, Winter Olympics & Paralympics:

• Gold Medal:Increased from ₹3 crore to ₹5 crore
• Silver Medal:Increased from ₹2 crore to ₹3 crore
• Bronze Medal:Increased from ₹1 crore to ₹2 crore

Asian Games & Asian Para Games:

• Gold Medal:Increased from ₹50 lakh to ₹4 crore
• Silver Medal:Increased from ₹30 lakh to ₹2.5 crore
• Bronze Medal:Increased from ₹20 lakh to ₹1.5 crore

Commonwealth Games:

• Gold Medal:Increased from ₹50 lakh to ₹3 crore
• Silver Medal:Increased from ₹30 lakh to ₹2 crore
• Bronze Medal:Increased from ₹20 lakh to ₹1 crore

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated “Vantara,” a new cultural and tourism hub in Jamnagar, Gujarat.

• “Vantara” showcases the rich cultural heritage and history of the Saurashtra region, aiming to boost tourism and local economy.
• The project includes museums, art galleries, and performance centers to promote regional arts and crafts.

• President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the two-day Visitor’s Conference for the academic year 2024-25 at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• The conference serves as a platform for discussions on enhancing the quality of higher education in India.
• Vice-Chancellors of central universities, Directors of IITs, NITs, and other institutions of national importance participated in the event.

Christian Stocker was sworn in as Austria’s Chancellor on March 3, 2025, leading a three-party coalition government comprising the conservative Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), the center-left Social Democrats (SPÖ), and the liberal Neos.

• Key figures in the new government include Andreas Babler as Vice Chancellor and Beate Meinl-Reisinger as Foreign Minister.

About Austria

• Capital:Vienna
• Official Language:German
• Government Type:Federal Parliamentary Republic
• President (2025):Alexander Van der Bellen
• Geographical Location:Landlocked country in Central Europe
• Bordering Countries:Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein
• Major River:Danube (Europe’s second-longest river)

• The Government of India has appointed Ajay Bhadoo, an IAS officer from the 1999 batch, as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Government e Marketplace (GeM), effective March 3, 2025.
• Prior to this appointment, Bhadoo served as Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce since August 2024.
• The GeM portal, launched on August 9, 2016, is an online platform for public procurement of goods and services by central government ministries and departments.

• The U.S. government has announced the creation of a Crypto Strategic Reserve, a move aimed at integrating cryptocurrencies into the country’s financial system.
• This initiative marks a significant step in acknowledging digital assets as part of national economic strategy.

ABOUT:

• The Crypto Strategic Reserve will function as a national stockpile of digital assets, similar to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, but for cryptocurrencies.
• It will be managed under a federal regulatory framework to ensure security, transparency, and compliance with financial laws.
• The reserve will consist of five major cryptocurrencies:

1. Bitcoin (BTC) – The first and most widely recognized cryptocurrency.
2. Ethereum (ETH) – Known for its smart contract capabilities.
3. Ripple (XRP) – Used for fast and low-cost cross-border payments.
4. Solana (SOL) – A high-performance blockchain designed for decentralized applications.
5. Cardano (ADA) – Focuses on sustainability, security, and scalability.

• Significance of the Initiative:
• Economic Stability: Functions similarly to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, providing a financial buffer in economic uncertainty.
• Hedge Against Inflation: Cryptocurrencies can serve as a safeguard against currency devaluation and market fluctuations.
• Strengthens U.S. Financial Position: Establishes the U.S. as a leader in the global crypto economy and encourages institutional adoption.
• Diversification of Assets: Reduces reliance on traditional financial systems, adding resilience to the U.S. economy.

• Forbes India Leadership Awards (FILA) 2025 concluded at Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai.
• Key Highlights:

1. Hosted by Forbes India, featuring influential names in business, tech, and philanthropy.
2. Awards celebrated breakthrough innovations, leadership, and entrepreneurial success.

• Major Award Winners:

1. Emerging Innovator Award – BugWorks Research,Recognized for biotech innovation.
2. Focus: Transforming discoveries into real-world impact.
3. Outstanding Startup Award – BrowserStack, Revolutionized software testing solutions globally.
4. Founders: Ritesh Arora, Nakul Aggarwal.
5. Impact: Powers half of the world’s airlines, banks, and tech firms.

1. Icons of Excellence:

1. Ajay Singh (SpiceJet Chairman & MD),Recognized for transforming India’s aviation sector.
2. Katrina Kaif (Co-founder, Kay Beauty),Honored for entrepreneurial excellence in beauty industry.

• India has obtained a 9,000-square-kilometer exploration block in Zambia, a leading global copper producer, to search for copper and cobalt.
• Global Copper Market Trends:

1. Shrinking supply of copper ore (Bloomberg report).
2. China controls 50% of global smelting & refining capacity.
3. High demand drivers: EV batteries, renewable energy, and clean tech.
4. Top producers: Chile, Peru, China, DRC, U.S.
5. Geopolitical race: India, China, and the U.S. securing supply chains.

• India’s Copper Situation:

3. Domestic Production (2023-24): 3.78 million tonnes (8% lower than 2018-19).
4. Top producing states: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan.
5. Copper Imports: Doubled to ₹26,000 crore (2023-24 vs. 2018-19).
6. Challenges: Large deposits require extensive exploration before mining (avg. 17 years for a copper mine).
7. Overseas Strategy: Investments in Zambia, Chile, DRC to meet demand, but with geopolitical risks.

• Africa’s Role in Critical Minerals:

1. Produces 70% of global cobalt & 16% of global copper.
2. DRC: Poised to be 2nd-largest copper supplier by 2030.

India’s Efforts: Ministry of Mines working in DRC, Tanzania, Mozambique, Rwanda to acquire mineral assets.

• The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in collaboration with NITI Aayog, launched Swavalambini, a Women Entrepreneurship Programme.
• Objective: To establish a structured and stage-wise entrepreneurial journey for young women.
• Target Audience: Women in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
• Aim:

1. Nurturing entrepreneurial spirit among young women.
2. Providing the mindset, resources, and mentorship needed to build and scale businesses.

• Key Features of Swavalambini Programme:

1. Faculty Development Programme (FDP):

Training for faculty members from participating HEIs.

Five-day training sessions to equip faculty with entrepreneurial knowledge.

2. Mentorship & Support:Business plan development with mentorship from industry experts & successful entrepreneurs.
3. Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP):Advanced training after initial entrepreneurial awareness.

Focus areas:

• Business Planning & Strategy.
• Leadership & Decision-Making Skills.
• Financial Literacy & Investment Strategies.
• Market Research & Competitive Analysis.